TN court-appointed attorneys paid less than in most states, study finds

11:56 PM,
Mar. 23, 2013

Written by

Bobby Allyn
| The Tennessean

Being a low-income criminal defendant in Tennessee can often mean having disappointing legal representation, according to a recent study.

A study released by the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers found that Tennessee pays court-appointed attorneys one of the lowest rates in the country.

The study, tied to the 50th anniversary of Gideon v. Wainwright, the U.S. Supreme Court decision that entitled poor people charged with crimes to court-appointed attorneys, suggested that states with low compensation and pay caps hinder poor defendants. It discourages experienced ...